BlueTech Research

📢 New Podcast Episode: 🎧 The Water Online Show   Navigating the choppy waters🌊 of tariffs, regulations, and industry trends. In the latest episode of The Water Online Show, Travis K. and Kevin Westerling are joined by Saurabh Singh and Jacob Steele, P.Eng from BlueTech Research, to talk about how tariffs are impacting everything from pipes to PFAS regulations, and what it means for ratepayers. Tune in for the full episode: https://lnkd.in/eG6KY3Sx Don't miss an episode - subscribe to the podcast here: https://lnkd.in/eUJ6Z8bx

Swiss start-up Oxyle won the Aquatech Innovation Forum Digital Derby which was held during Aquatech Amsterdam. Oxyle beat two competitor technologies after its CEO Dr Fajer Mushtaq pitched the company’s Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) solutions to a panel of experts from CDM Smith, Imagine H2O and BlueTech Research. The other companies pitching at the event were Aquagga Inc. and Puraffinity Read more about the Innovation Forum and the Digital Derby, in the link in our comment section.

Two members of our BlueTech Research team, Saurabh Singh and Jacob Steele, P.Eng, joined The Water Online Show with hosts Travis K. and Kevin Westerling to examine the implications of new and proposed tariffs on the water sector — from rising costs of materials like pipes, valves, membranes, and treatment chemicals to downstream effects on infrastructure delivery and ratepayer impacts. Drawing on their analysis graph "𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐒 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫", they break down exposure levels across key product categories, assess supply chain flexibility, and outline strategic implications for utilities, industrials, and solution providers. They also discuss mitigation strategies such as long-term procurement contracts, supplier diversification, and investing in digital water technologies to counteract cost increases. The conversation addresses the regulatory outlook on PFAS — including the anticipated direction under the current U.S. administration — and explores how corporations with water stewardship goals may adapt in response to shifting market and policy conditions. You can watch the full episode on Water Online: https://lnkd.in/dpzAtcTu Or listen on to go on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/d-Wk5kRv Comment below for a copy of the graph or to speak with our team. #BlueTechResearch #PFAS #Tariffs #Infrastructure #WaterInnovation

𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐎𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 (𝐇𝐑𝐑𝐎) is approaching a pivotal moment, as growing water stress, corporate sustainability targets, and brine disposal costs drive it from a specialist solution to a strategic imperative. But how close is HRRO to commercial mainstream? Who’s gaining momentum—and who’s lagging behind? Join Dr Kim Wu and Dr Mike Mickley, authors of BlueTech’s forthcoming Horizon Scan on HRRO technologies, for an incisive web briefing that sets the stage for one of this year’s most anticipated publications. 🗓️ 24 April | 🕓 16:00 GMT 🔔 Registrations are open: https://lnkd.in/dNd5XJ3z This session will provide an early glimpse into the 2025 update, including: ✔️ The rise of dynamic vs static RO systems ✔️ Commercial breakthroughs in batch and semi-batch RO ✔️ Where the promise of OARO and UHP RO is meeting resistance ✔️ Which sectors are forging ahead—and which remain hesitant Take part in a live Q&A with the authors as they unpack the evolving HRRO landscape and discuss the real-world dynamics shaping its future. #HighRecoveryRO #HRRO #ReverseOsmosis #MembraneTechnology #BrineManagement #AdvancedWaterTreatment #WebBriefing #BlueTechBriefing

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Aqua Membranes, Inc., one of our BlueTech Innovation Pavilion showcase companies, for winning the Aquatech Innovation Award 2025 in the Water Supply category. 🥳 This recognition is no coincidence. Every company in the BlueTech Innovation Pavilion is handpicked through a rigorous selection process, ensuring they represent true market-ready innovation. Aqua Membranes’ Printed Spacer Technology® is a breakthrough in reverse osmosis (RO), delivering higher efficiency, reduced fouling, and lower energy consumption—a long-overdue advancement in water treatment. With installations across the US, Asia, and Australia, they are setting a new benchmark for sustainable water reuse and resource security. We also extend our congratulations to Chromafora, another BlueTech Innovation Pavilion showcase company, for making it as a finalist in the Wastewater Treatment category. The level of innovation coming out of the Pavilion this year has been exceptional. 🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dH-Kmbw2 #Aquatech2025 #BlueTechInnovationPavilion #WaterInnovation #AquaMembranes #Chromafora

This week at Aquatech, our very own Dr. Vishal Wagholikar, PhD took the stage to present key insights from the Technology Horizon Scan Report: 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬. The response? A full house and a queue of attendees eager to continue the conversation afterward. The demand for next-generation cooling solutions is clear. AI-driven workloads, rising power densities, and sustainability pressures are accelerating the need for liquid cooling, smart energy management, and more efficient water use. Vishal’s session unpacked the challenges and opportunities ahead, and the industry is paying close attention. To continue the conversation, join Vishal and Dana Hicks for an in-depth BlueTech Research Web Briefing on March 27, where we’ll explore these innovations further. 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/de2amQwS For those who want to prepare ahead, the full Technology Horizon Scan Report: Innovations in Cooling Technologies is available now on the BlueTech Intelligence Platform. Clients can download it here: https://lnkd.in/dyA8bDhV. Drop us a message if you wish to access it. Cooling innovation is not a future challenge—it’s happening now. #Aquatech #CoolingInnovation #DataCenters #WaterEfficiency #BlueTechResearch

FULL HOUSE. STANDING ROOM ONLY. THE DYNAMICS OF WATER INNOVATION. ✨ Yesterday’s Drinks Reception and Meet & Greet with Paul O'Callaghan was nothing short of phenomenal! What was meant to be a casual gathering turned into a packed event where we squeezed in every last person who wanted to be part of the moment! The books? Flying off the shelves. And the best part? The overwhelmingly positive reactions from those who attended—some of whom had already read the book and shared just how much it resonated with them. We’re over the moon with the energy, the conversations, and the sheer enthusiasm for shaping the future of water innovation. If you were there, thank you for making it such a special moment! If you missed out, don’t worry—you can still grab one. Check out here: https://lnkd.in/dpw8aCPT #Aquatech2025 #WaterInnovation #BlueTechResearch #TheDynamicsOfWaterInnovation #FutureOfWater

The 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐠 was a full house yesterday, buzzing with conversations over croissants and coffee as we tackled the biggest challenges and opportunities in water. Utilities face growing pressure to do more with less, navigating security threats, climate change, and financial constraints. Groundwater overuse is driving new solutions in monitoring, management, and sustainable recharge, while the push for universal access to clean water is accelerating local partnerships and decentralised models like solar-powered desalination. Innovation was front and centre, from advanced nutrient removal, carbon capture, and high-recovery reverse osmosis to the rising water footprint of AI and data centres. Meanwhile, PFAS destruction remains a top regulatory and environmental priority. But technology alone isn’t enough—it’s about driving real-world adoption. Investment is flowing faster than ever into solutions that prove both environmental and financial returns. Crisis-driven markets like PFAS treatment are accelerating, and the companies that can demonstrate impact at scale are gaining traction. A key theme emerging from the discussion was lighthouse projects—innovative initiatives that are leading the way, setting new benchmarks, and showing the world what’s possible. From cities consuming less than 120 litres of water per person per day, to energy-neutral wastewater treatment plants, these projects act as tipping points, demonstrating that large-scale transformation in the water sector is within reach. Whether it’s Apple recontracting to drive circular water use, or Anglian Water Services pioneering resource synergies with greenhouses, these initiatives are proof that breakthrough solutions are not just hypothetical—they’re happening now. The takeaway? No one solves these challenges alone. Partnerships between technology providers, utilities, and investors are essential to driving system-wide innovation. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, to GRUNDFOS for making this event possible, and to our speakers for their insights. Let’s keep the momentum going—the future of water innovation is happening now! 💧🚀 Hamed Heyhat | Laura Gallindo | Paul O'Callaghan | Divya Inna | Lily Chen | Kim Wu | Vishal Wagholikar, PhD | Eoin Corcoran | Jacob Steele, P.Eng #AquaTech2025 #BlueTechBreakfastBriefing #PFAS #AI #ResilientInfrastructure #InvestingInWater #LighthouseProjects #WaterInnovation

PFAS discussions to be continued! Jacob Steele, P.Eng recently authored the Bluetech Horizon Scan report and brought this topic to the Aquatech audience this morning. If you’re interested in the report, comment below!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐲: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐅𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 brought together three pioneering companies—Oxyle, Aquagga Inc., and Puraffinity—each tackling PFAS contamination with distinct approaches. Moderated by Antoine Walter, the session featured pitches, expert insights, and an interactive investment round where the audience played the role of investors. 💧 𝗢𝘅𝘆𝗹𝗲, Fajer Mushtaq, showcased an all-in-one solution combining PFAS concentration and destruction, using foam fractionation to upconcentrate contaminants before applying catalytic oxidation-reduction. Their AI-driven monitoring ensures compliance, and their process leaves no secondary waste, using sustainable catalysts. Already in operation, Oxyle demonstrated how integrating treatment steps can streamline remediation. 💧 𝗔𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗮, Dhileep Sivam, presented its hydrothermal alkaline treatment (HALT) for cost-effective, high-efficiency destruction of all PFAS types. Operating under high temperature and pressure, the system integrates with various concentration methods and offers flexible purchase or lease options. 💧𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, Henrik Hagemann, focused on PFAS concentration through its advanced absorbent media, providing a compact, sustainable solution with extended lifespan and a circular approach. Their technology supports both drinking water and wastewater applications, and they are actively scaling production. Judges Sonora Hill (Imagine H2O), @Katja Amstaetter (CDM Smith) and our very own PFAS expert Jacob Steele, P.Eng challenged the startups on cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and regulatory compliance. They debated integrated versus modular solutions and assessed the ability of each technology to address different PFAS types. At the end, the audience voted via Slido, hypothetically investing €10,000 in one company, and 𝗢𝘅𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲. One audience member grabbed the mic to share a message of gratitude, expressing hope and optimism for the future with the technologies and solutions presented. It’s not all gloom and doom! A huge thank you to Tom Freyberg from Atlantean Media and the Aquatech team for making this event happen. The discussion reinforced the need for diverse approaches to PFAS remediation, moving the industry closer to lasting solutions.